Anxious Harlem Braces For Election

On Brink Of Potentially Historic Vote, Nation's Symbolic Capital Of Black Culture Remains Tense

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's Stephen Smith

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Chet Whye has reason to be confident.

Harlem4Obama, the grassroots organization he directs, has recruited more than 1,000 volunteers and registered 3,000 voters. It has opened field offices in Pennsylvania and Virginia. And, perhaps most promising, Barack Obama maintains a lead over John McCain in the majority of national polls.

Despite all the favorable signs - and the cake on his desk for his 53rd birthday - Whye is hardly celebrating.

"We’re scared," he says. "It’s really more intense right now."

Traditionally the backyard of Hillary and Bill Clinton, Harlem is now abuzz with Obama fever - and Obama himself has singled out community efforts here as a source for his policy positions. Still, even as the United States may be poised to elect its first African American president, the nation’s epicenter of black culture remains anxious about Obama’s prospects.

The tense mood is palpable in Harlem4Obama’s donated office on Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 133rd Street. Whye takes a flurry of calls on his cell phone while coordinating campaign strategy from his laptop. Volunteers phone voters to urge patience at the polling sites. And a hand-written sign hangs in the corner serving as the ultimate cautionary tale: "I Was In New Hampshire."

The sign refers to Obama’s primary defeat to Hillary Clinton. Back in January, the Illinois senator enjoyed a double-digit lead in the polls before losing a narrow vote to the New York senator. Whye and volunteer Alima Berkoun recalled a long and dismal drive from New Hampshire back to Harlem.

"That was a wake-up call," said Berkoun, who has lived in Harlem for 13 years. "The next day I was out on 125th Street working even though I was sick."

Perhaps one reason Obama has inspired volunteers in the community is that the Illinois senator has credited Harlem for inspiring one of his presidential platforms. Last year, he singled out the Harlem’s Children Zone, an ambitious and successful anti-poverty effort, as a model for his policy to address the plight of urban America.

"There's no reason this program should stop at the end of those blocks in Harlem. It's time to change the odds for neighborhoods all across America," Obama declared last July. "When I'm President, the first part of my plan to combat urban poverty will be to replicate the Harlem Children's Zone in 20 cities across the country."

Harlem was not always safe ground for Obama. Once Hillary Clinton’s turf and the home of her husband’s office, the community's support was fractured between the senators from New York and Illinois. Indeed, Hillary Clinton received twice as many votes as Obama in Harlem’s district during the New York Democratic primary in February.

But ten months later, after a lengthy and bitter Democratic race, Harlem’s political leaders and Clinton backers have slowly gotten on board with the Illinois senator. Obama signs now adorn nearly every street corner and many Harlem businesses, including Karrot, an organic health food store on 117th Street.

The store is a hub of passionate political discussion among locals and its owner, Carlos Aguila, is not afraid to display his views. Outside his shop is a chalkboard sign that reads: "The coming retirement of the GOP brand." Inside his store, you can buy his top-selling drink "The Obama" - a concoction of almond milk, peanut butter, chocolate and bananas.

Aguila, 49, says he is emotionally invested in this election for the first time in his life and he believes 99 percent of Harlem will vote for Obama. He cites the nation’s evolving racial makeup (what he calls "the browning of America") as the main reason to be hopeful. Still, Aguila concedes that anxiety and uncertainty hang over Harlem.

"The whole neighborhood feels it. We’re talking about a black man," Aguila says. "If he’s so good, why is [the race] so close?"

Although Harlem has produced iconic black political figures (Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell, to name two), many residents say they do not dwell on race in politics. Whye says that a recent survey mailed out to voters revealed the number one issue among Harlemites is not housing or education or health care - it is political conduct. Accordingly, says Whye, the community's residents not only praise Obama's demeanor and intellect but they also have an emotional attachment to his family.

Even one of the rarest of sights in Harlem - a McCain supporter - agrees. Keisha Morrisey, who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for New York City Council in 2002, acknowledges she's a fan of the Obama clan. "I love the family. I love Michelle and the daughters."

In the final hours before the election, Whye is trying to translate that love into logistics. His office is focused on stationing volunteers at the nearly 200 polling sites in Harlem's 15th district. Meanwhile, volunteers are calling on-the-fence voters in battleground states right up until Tuesday. His biggest priority is preaching patience to the overwhelming number of first-time voters - the ones "Barack pushed through the door," as Whye puts it. He worries some will get intimidated by polling red tape and frustrated by long lines. But Whye is blunt when it comes to local residents waiting to cast a vote for Obama.

"Most people from Harlem - their ancestors made it through slavery," he says. "So you can wait."

[nolalou]

Another story from CBS about racial attitudes and hopes and fears.

Shame on CBS for playing the race card over and over and over.

Posted by CBS_Oliver

You think sweeping it under a rug is a better idea? Talking about race is not ''playing the race card'', it is something that is long overdue!

[aster6]

I think the candidacy of Barack Obama may finally show the media that their proclaimation of the racial devide in this country has been outdated for a long time, and they did''nt even know it.

Yes there are still racists in this country, but they are minority by far now. I hope black people will come to this understanding now too. The media has promoted racial devision for way too long, simply by broadcasting thier mistaken views on the subject constantly.

The reality is that white people will vote for a black person. This is now a proven fact. I think this election will do more for race relations in this country then anything anyone could ever dream of.

Frankly as a white person I too was dubiouse that his candidacy could go far. My vote in the primaries was not for Barak Obama. I was proven wrong. He is the best choice for president and I have voted for him.

This country has suffered too much division, we must have a uniter in office this time!

Hatred and division will not get us, as a country, anywhere as the last 8 yrs has proven so well.

[cbs_oliver]

Another story from CBS about racial attitudes and hopes and fears.

Shame on CBS for playing the race card over and over and over.

[ccroyle7]

all types of people are voting for obama, not because of race but becasue he is truly helping out people besides the rich. never has a candidate reached to so many people and caused such a stir. its fantastic and really exciting. Go Obama!

[jdn54]

I am a lifelong Harlemite and i was there when Chet and Harlem4Obama announced the findings of the survey. Political conduct was number 1, but housing was a close second! Why is the media afraid to discusss the serious housing issue in this country? It is not just the foreclosures alone that pulled down Wall Street when the media wasn''t interested, it is the destruction of public housing nationwide and the loss of Constitutional rights for public housing residents. I promise you, next year will be the year of housing with a March on Washington for Housing witnessed by President Obama. Get ready to do comprehensive news coverage of this issue. Also get ready for anew grassroots politics of neo progessives in Harlem under this new age of Obaman Democracy. We are going to take back Harlem and our City of New York from a corrupt Tammany Hall of gentrified Democraps and Republicons. Recently I saw Rangel reelection signs defaced in Harlem, but not Obamas. People are losing their neighborhoods because of political misconduct. Rangel may win this election, but it may be his last political hurrah, same with Bloomberg.
There is a new sense of patriotism stirring, it is the preservation of community and the renewal of the POLIS in the Athenian sense of democracy. Long live a renewed America!

Bakeslice87, Black Americans are very knowledgeable about politics. You are absolutely wrong in your assessment!

[jsutaguy]

Palin:
1. She and her husband belong to a radical Alaskan party that hates the USA. Here''s a quote from the founder, Joseph Vogler: "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government. And I won''t be buried under their *** flag"

2. She''s an idiot.

3. She thinks that she understands foreign policy because Russia is closer to her state than Oregon.

4. She doesn''t (still) know what a VP does.

5. She *barely* graduated from the last of the 6 colleges she attended.

[jsutaguy]

One-Texan is the kind of jackass that really, really, really needs to get a clue about how, exactly, his governor has so completely and totally screwed up this country for the last eight years. Here are a couple of facts for Mr. Texan:
1. He lied about virtually everything he promised, EXCEPT his promise to create the biggest tax breaks for the wealthiest people in the world.
2. He tried to keep the war costs off the books of the USA by funding them with signing orders, instead of having the congress fund it...which meant that he attempted to hide the debt...which was so stupid, even the GAO refused to go along with it.
3. He has created such an incompetent administration, besides *** up every domestic crisis under his watch, he ALSO caused THE ENTIRE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT ITS RESIGNATION in order to get that jackass Gonzalez out of there.
4. OVER 20 TOP GENERALS, all of whom had commanded in IRAQ, RESIGNED JUST SO THEY COUlD SPEAK PUBLICLY ABOUT HOW BADLY THAT IDIOT RUMSFELD WAS DESTROYING OUR MILITARY.
5. I won''t even TALK about the G*DAM TRILLION DOLLAR WALL STREET BAILOUT.

Idiot.

[jsutaguy]

tst

[phoenix357-2009]

moose2riches:

If Sarah Palin is a terrorist, then I am Jesus Christ. That is about the crazies of crazy things that have been written in any of the several blogs I have been reading over the past several weeks. Just because the Lady hunts and fishes, doesn''t make her a bad person or terrorist. If those sports upset you, and you only gather your food at the grocery store, then you need to google one of those documentaries (sp?) that the Veegans have put together on one of those ***-backward slaughter houses and tell me if you will eat another piece of meat; or for that matter ridicule a person like Lady Palin, for hunting. A Hunters main purpose is to take the animal down with one shot, with no pain to the animal. As far as all this talk about the african american communities rioting, hopefully if Obama wins or looses, everyone wil find peace and we as a country can start somehow to move foward. I know this might be hard for some, but it must be done.
VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN

[wlmrtpatriot]

I''m sorry but I have not witnessed the "unifying" effect of the Obama campaign.

[bakeslice87]

hahaha...the people of Harlem don''t even know what the policies of either candidate are. Howard Stern proved that on his show. They''re voting because of race like most Black Americans. They don''t care about the issues. If Obama doesn''t win, we''ll see rioting in Chicago and Harlem. Book it!

[kansas1946]

I hope that black Americans know how significant this campaign cycle has been, and that whether Obama wins or loses, that history has indeed been made. Also that millions of Americans, both black and white, will mourn if he loses. In that, we have never been more united.

[zgriner-2009]

Race has nothing to do with this? Pure BS.

[hennighg]

Alas, the fact is that race is still a major issue, and the Bush administration has done much to fuel issue. Yes, he has Ms. Rice working for him, but the republicans this year, as is tradition, have tried to block blacks from voting because of their propensity to vote for the left. Guess why they do that. Because of things like the republicans doing things like making it more difficult for them to vote. If you are a white conservative, of course to you this is all "nonsense". If you aren''t, it makes perfect sense. After all, the only worry Mr. Obama has going into tomorrow is the Bradley Effect. Bush and the far right still haven''t figured out that you can not act in a particular way and then have people ignore it whenever you want them to. I hope there is no violence of any kind any where. But (sigh) you would simply have to understand that there is a reason.

[listenupfool]

I dont'' care what color you are. You have to have SOME experience other than speeches and campaigns to get my vote. Also, there is that part where ACORN Ayers, Rezco, ...etc... really do not get it for me.
I''ll wager that many MANY people feel the same way.
Sorry. GOP wins again.

[gop_will_win]

NEWS FLASH.. LIQUOR, lighters, glass bottles and gas sales are up in Harlem today.. Baseball bats tire irons and other blunt objects are sales are expected to increase over night..


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Posted by swensbckcuf
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Thats a surprise. I would have thought there would be reports of theft of those items.

[credibility2]

Articles like this feed into the puny little underdeveloped minds of trouble makers, regardless of their skin color, race or ethnicity. Regardless of which candidate wins and the outcome, win or lose, if trouble makers want to go on a barbaric savage rampage, they''ll use any excuse just to commit their criminality. This is what has happened in major cities since the 1960s. There''s no excuse for this type of juvenile criminality and anti-social behavior.

[thewarning2]

PrezMcCain, you sound angry. Is a doing spinner doing your wife?

[ldvuong]

It is not race, but many black people are more qualified than Obama is. Experience counts, and other issues such as abortion are heavy in voters'' hearts, in the tradition of Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. American peopler are smart, and morally and spiritually mature.